The children who were removed from a Texas ranch occupied by polygamists are starting to get visits from their mothers, and hearings will begin Monday to determine what their parents might do to regain custody

Behind guarded, ornate gates at the end of a rural road, a self-proclaimed prophet warns his followers about the end of time and rails against a dangerous and unclean world outside their West Texas compound.

Powerful storms including apparent tornadoes moved through parts of Texas and Oklahoma on Wednesday, destroying several homes, knocking out power for many, and causing some injuries and at least one death.

Firefighters battled major wildfires on a hot and windy Friday in just about every corner of the parched state, trying to prevent flames from advancing on hundreds of buildings and two dozen oil and gas structures.

John McCain and his aides are already thinking about which states to target in the fall and one tops the list: California. The task is daunting no Republican nominee has taken California since the first President Bush in 1988.